Private Reykjanes Peninsula Tour | Pick up from Keflavik International Airport

Bridge between Europe and North America on Reykjanes Peninsula.

The lava-scarred Reykjanes peninsula lies on one of the world's major plate boundaries, the Mid Atlantic Ridge. According to the continental drift theory the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are continuously drifting apart with great forces under the gaping rifts. As the plates diverge, linear fractures, known as fissures form due to stresses created by the tension that builds up as the plates move away from each other.

The Bridge between two continents at Sandvík is a small footbridge over a major fissure which provides clear evidence of the presence of a diverging plate margin. The bridge was built as a symbol for the connection between Europe and North America.

One can cross the continental divide on Leif the Lucky's Bridge and take home a personalized certificate at the Reykjanes information center and Reykjanes Geopark visitor center at Duus Cultural house.

The first lighthouse in Iceland was built on Valahnúkur in Reykjanes in

the year 1878. By 1905 earthquakes and surf had damaged Valahnúkur

so much that there was the risk of the lighthouse falling into the sea.

A new lighthouse was therefore built in 1907-1908 on Bæjarfell hill in Reykjanes and the old one was demolished with an explosion on april 16th 1908. A survey which Rögnvaldur Guðmundsson supervised in 2007 for the Icelandic Maritime Administration led to the conclusion that Reykjanes lighthouse was the most popular lighthouse among Icelanders.

The lightsignal height is 69 meters above sealevel but the actual height of the lighthouse is 26 metres. Reykjanes lighthouse also has a radio beacon with a correction signal. There is carved rock and concrete in the lighthouse. Architect Frederik Kjørboe and engineer Thorvald Krabbe designed the lighthouse. The operation

of Reykjanes Lighthouse is under the supervision of the Icelandic Maritime Administration.

The area is close to Reykjanes lighthouse and is collectively named Gunnuhver after a female ghost that was laid there.

The mud pools take form where steam from boiling geothermal reservoir water emanates and condenses and mixes with surface water. Accompanying gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide make the water acid. This causes alteration of the fresh lava rock to clay.

Steaming of the ground at Reykjanes increased markedly as a consequence of a pressure drawdown in the geothermal reservoir upon the start of production from the reservoir in 2006. Iceland´s largest mud pool at present is prominent, highest up in the Gunnuhver group. It is 20 meters wide across a rim of mud, boiling vigorously. Gunnuhver stands in the heart of the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark where the North Atlantic ridge rises from the ocean.

An important high temperature geothermal area.

Many study opportunities due to the great variety of features. A boardwalk leads through the area. Seltún has many mudpots and fumaroles, and minerals deposited from geothermal solutions provide colorful sediments. Good walking paths are around the area and parking.

Setún is a part of Reykjanes nature reserve.

Location: Road 42, parking, near Kleifarvatn.

Lake between Sveifluháls and Vatnshlíð.

The lake Kleifarvatn is about 10 km². It is the largest of Reykjanes peninsula and the third largest of southern Iceland. It is about 97 m deep and one of the deepest lakes in Iceland. Its catchment area is small and it has a very limited discharge on the surface. The lake has diminished since the year 2000 because of two major earthquakes, which probably opened up fissures at its bottom. In the sixties, char fries from Lake Hlidarvatn were released into the lake and have thrived quite well.

In the southernmost part, hot water from some hot springs runs into the lake but elsewhere the lake is very cold. A small fishing lodge is located by the lake. Great place for photographers because the volcanic surroundings of the lake are unique and beautiful. The story says that a monster in the shape of a worm and the size of a medium-sized whale lives in the lake.